Considering that Xbox Live Gold already costs $59 a year, getting it along with Office access for a single $99 annual subscription is a solid deal (assuming you're in the market for expanded online features for your Xbox and for a Web-based productivity suite). The deal also plays somewhat into the recently floated idea that the upcoming Xbox One could be a limited-use business machine, letting users access Web Apps and SkyDrive files on their HDTVs.

The deal is available in the UK as well, where it applies to the university-focused Office 365 product (it seems that the US offer excludes university sign-ups). Also note that you can't get this deal if you sign up for the $10 monthly Office 365 subscription; you have to commit to at least 12 months to get your free online gaming.

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area.